Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 199: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

186 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. in regulating the friendships or the acquaintances stantine Kanaris, was that which became the ex- which she might form. Thus, at the age of one- | cellent feeling experienced by a fond uncle towards and-twenty, Signora Portici was a being of whom | the accepted suitor for the hand of a much-loved any relative might be proud as well as fond— whose love it was happiness for any admirer to win—and whose hand might have been counted an honour for even a prince to possess. Happy, then, I thought should Constantine Kanaris deem himself to be; and in the love of such a divine being it appeared almost sinful to doubt that the divine blessing wouid be wanted to render that happiness complete. I may now pursue the thread of my tale. When the first warm greetings were exchanged between Leonora and Constantine, the latter—addressing the yging lady in the French language, in order that I might understand what was said, for she herself spoke it with a most perfect fluency—ob- served, “This is my friend Mr. Wilmot; and he will become a friend of yourself, my dearest Leonora, and of your excellent uncle likewise, not only for my sake, but likewise because he is the bearer of a letter of introduetion from an influen- tial nobleman at Rome.” “Mr. Wilmot is truly weleome here,” said Leonora, addressing me with that well-bred ease which, without undue familiarity, is equally with- out formal constraint. ‘‘ My unele will be here in a few minutes; and he will repeat the welcome which I have thus given.” I expressed my gratitude to the young lady for her kindness ; and placing my letter of introduc- tion upon the table, intimated that it was penned by the Count of Tivoli. “His lordship,” said Leonora, “is an old and intimate friend of my uncle, who will therefore be , all the more delighted to show Mr. Wilmot every possible attention But here he is !” This remark was elicited by the entrance of an elderly and venerable-looking gentleman. Signor Portici was evidently on the other side of sixty; but his tall upright form, erect as in his youth— his firm step—his countenance comparatively un- wrinkled—his clear blue eye—and his well- preserved teeth—all indicated the man whose life had been regularly and temperately passed, who had known but few cares beyond those which are inseparable from the lot of humanity in general, and who was endowed with a contented and cheer- ful disposition. He possessed a sufficient dignity to be suitable to the high judicial office which he held, without suffering it to rise into hauteur: his manner was calm, yet benevolent— it may be described as blandly cordial and honestly frank. There was nothing in this gentleman which at all savoured of that crabbed mistrust, morose irritability, or eccentricity of humour, which are too often allied with an advanced age; he looked not with a jaundiced eye upon young persons, nor with contempt upon their inex- perience, nor with cynical dislike upon their pursuits: he was tolerant, kind, and just. But of course the reader will comprehend that I did not discover all these attributes in the first few mo- ments of our acquaintance—though there is always something in the demeanour of a person which af first sight conveys an impression that serves as a key, so to speak, to the reading of his entire disposition. The welcome which the Judge gave to Con- and cherished niece. Then, turning to me—on learning my name, and on being informed that I brought a letter of introduction from the Count of | Tivoli—Signor Portici shook me by the hand, and repeated that welcome which had been already given by the amiable and beauteous Leonora. After some little conversation on general topics, the Judge proceeded to peruse the letter which I had laid upon the table; and when he had finished it, he asked me to accompany him into another room—adding with a smile, “I have no doubt these young people have much to say to each other after their separation, comparatively brief - though it has been.” Leonora’s countenance was suffused with a modest blush—Constantine surveyed her with the fondest love—and the judge led me to his library, which looked upon a lawn at the side of the house. I should observe that he had all the time been speak- ing in French—which, as I have stated in a pre- vious chapter, is well understood by all Italians of education, Bidding me take a chair near him, Signor Portici said, “ The Count of Tivoli’s letter informs me, Mr. Wilmot, that you have come to Civita Vecchia upon business of no ordinary im- portance—indeed of a most delicate character, and requiring much prudence and foresight. I need hardly assure you that whatsoever help I may be enabled to render, shall be cheerfully afforded and perhaps my judicial capacity will place me in all the better position, by giving me the full com- mand of police-agencies, to further your views.” I expressed my thanks to Signor Portici for his goodness ; and soliciting his patience, proceeded to unfold enough of everything which related to my- self—to Sir Mathew Heseltine, his daughter, and granddaughter—as well as to Mr. Lanover and Mr. Dorchester, to make him comprehend the position of those affairs in which I was now mixed up, or in which I was resolved to interfere. I explained likewise how I had received such special and im- portant information from the prisoners at Rome ; and how Lanover and Dorchester were to be at Civita Vecchia on the ensuing Monday (this being the Friday of which I am now writing). I forgot not to add that it suited my purpose to remain, if possible, so far in the back-ground as to be an unseen assistant of Sir Mathew and the two ladies; but that of course this must depend entirely on circumstances, inasmuch as I should rest upon no punctilios of that sort if events took a turn com- pelling me to appear conspicuously and promi- nently in the matter. The Judge listened to me with the kindest patience; and when I had finished speaking, he said, “I understand, Mr. Wilmot, that as you have thus admitted me to your confidence, I am to reveal to others as little as may be of ali these cireumstances;—and it shall be so, But in the second place I must ask you a few questions. How long ago was it that you delivered Sir Mathew Heseltine and his family from the banditti in the Appenines ?” ““ Nearly three months,” I answered. “And when they departed thence,” continued | the Judge, “had you no notion of the direction | they intended to pursue ?” Ghoo